Health benefit thresholds – physical activity and air pollution: A systematic review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29105/respyn23.3-797Keywords:
air pollution, physical activity, public healthAbstract
Introduction: Air pollution is a global issue affecting the health of millions of people. On the other hand, physical activity is presented as a protective factor, but there is uncertainty about its effectiveness in environments with high air pollution. Objective: Explore the threshold at which outdoor physical activity becomes detrimental. Material and method: A systematic review based on PRISMA guidelines was conducted, examining the relationship between physical activity and air pollution in developing countries. Results: Eleven studies, mainly in China, analyzing this relationship were identified. Five studies found that physical activity was beneficial for health, while another five established pollution levels beyond which outdoor physical activity became harmful. The effects varied depending on the type of disease or symptom studied. Conclusion: The results suggest that the relationship between physical activity and air pollution depends on specific pollutant levels. Integrating these results to make broad recommendations is complex due to the diversity of pollutants and their health effects, as well as the inability to calculate personalized exposure. The need for public policy interventions to reduce air pollution and protect population health is emphasized.
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